Malaybalay City, Bukidnon — Authorities arrested a female leader of the New People’s Army (NPA), listed as the No. 2 Regional Most Wanted Person of Police Regional Office 10, during a joint manhunt operation in Barangay San Jose, Malaybalay City on September 21, 2025.
The suspect, identified only as “Lina”, a resident of the said barangay, was apprehended by operatives of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) Regional Field Unit 10 – Special Operations Team, CIDG Bukidnon Provincial Field Unit, Directorate for Intelligence-MAPIO, Intelligence Group, the 4th Infantry Division of the Philippine Army, and territorial police units.
She was arrested by virtue of warrants issued by courts in Cagayan de Oro City and Malaybalay City for Crimes Against International Humanitarian Law, Genocide and Other Crimes Against Humanity (RA 9851), Destructive Arson, Attempted Murder, Frustrated Murder, and Qualified Trafficking in Persons (RA 9208).
According to reports, “Lina” serves as a team leader under Squad Uno, Platoon Dos, PEDDLER, Sub-Regional Committee 2 (SRC2), North Central Mindanao Regional Committee (NCMRC) of the NPA. She is allegedly involved in armed operations in the hinterlands of San Fernando and Cabanglasan, Bukidnon, and has been raising funds to sustain insurgency activities in “white areas.”
Authorities linked her to several high-profile cases, including the January 25, 2021 arson attack in Sitio San Roque, Barangay Mandahican, Cabanglasan, where she and her co-accused burned five heavy equipment units owned by ULTICON Builders Inc., resulting in an estimated ₱8 million in damages.
She was also implicated in the January 31, 2021 ambush in Sitio Lirongan, Barangay Cananga-an, Cabanglasan, where NPA rebels opened fire on Philippine Army troops led by 2LT Domingo. The attack left Pvt. Dumaque wounded.
CIDG officials said her capture is part of the PNP’s sustained nationwide campaign against terrorism, in line with the directive of Acting PNP Chief Police Lieutenant General Jose Melencio C. Nartatez Jr.
CIDG Regional Director PMGEN Robert AA Morico II lauded the operatives for the successful operation.
“Her arrest is a government’s win over terrorism; and we helped the victims attain the justice they deserved. Maraming salamat sa inyo,” Morico said, commending PCOL Christopher M. Bermudez, PLTCOL Bryan ‘O Neil C. Salvacion, and the joint operating units.
He further stressed that the CIDG remains “steadfast in enforcing all laws, unrelenting in hunting down criminals, and dauntless in its pursuit of justice.”